Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Disposable separator for separatinct the epithelium layer from the cornea of
an eye
This invention relates to a blade, in particular to a disposable separator for
separating the
epithelium layer of a cornea from the underlying Bowman's layer.
BACKGROUND
Microkeratome blades are widely used in LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ
Keratomilousis)
procedures. LASIK permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear
covering of the
front of the eye, using an excimer laser. The microkeratome is used to cut a
corneal flap
containing the epithelium, Bowman's layer, and a portion of the stroma by
slicing through the
stroma, dividing it into at least two distinct portions. A hinge of uncut
corneal tissue is
typically left at one end of this flap. The flap is folded back revealing the
penetrated stroma,
the middle section of the cornea. Pulses from a computer-controlled laser
vaporize a portion
of the stroma and the flap is replaced. It is important that the blade used
during the LASIK
procedure is sharp, otherwise the quality of the procedure and the healing
time are poor.
Additionally, the blade has to be exceedingly sharp in order to produce
consistent and
reproducible flaps.
While all currently available microkeratome blades are either stainless or low-
carbon steel, a
variety of other materials, including diamond, sapphire, tungsten, ceramic,
and silicon
carbide, have been proposed. Among the known materials, diamond has the best
cutting
capacity due to its great hardness because the cutting edge can be ground with
a very small
radius of curvature lying in the nanometer range. Disadvantages are, however,
the high
material cost and the difficulties in applying the diamond as cutting edge on
a knife.
A blade made of stainless steel, on the other hand, can be manufactured in a
comparatively
simple way, and offers considerable cost advantages. However, while stainless
steel blades
are cheaper to manufacture than diamond blades, they are not so inexpensive as
to render
them "disposable" in all instances. Stainless steel blades are sometimes
autoclaved after a
use and reused on another patient. While autoclaving is generally considered
an effective
method of sterilization, it is not foolproof, and only one-time use of blades
can ensure that
each blade is entirely free of infection or physical defects.
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Because the "sharpness" of the blade, up until now, has been considered to be
the most
important characteristic of the blade for achieving a consistent corneal
resection, materials
cheaper than stainless steel, such as plastics, have been rejected as being
too soft to
achieve the required sharpness. Instead, the art has focused on various
methods of
manufacturing ever-more sharp steel blades, resulting in more complex and
expensive
manufacturing processes.
For instance, both EP 0 119 714 and WO 86/02868 propose to melt the cutting
edge of a
metallic blade body by laser beam treatment and to rapidly cool it off in a
water bath. In this
way, the cutting edge is amorphized and can then be sharpened to a radius of
curvature less
than several ten nanometers.
US Published Application US 2002/0052614 purports to achieve even sharper
blades than
the above by providing a blade having a carrier portion and a thin-walled
cover portion made
of amorphous metal, which is joined to the carrier portion. The amorphous
metal of the
cover portion forms a cutting edge of said blade. To prevent multiple uses of
the blade, the
blade can be magnetically encoded upon its first use and rejected by the
microkeratome
machine if a subsequent use is attempted. However, the manufacturing process
is complex
and expensive.
Thus, there is a need in the art for a blade that can be manufactured in a
simple fashion
from inexpensive polymeric raw materials. Additionally, it is advantageous for
the blade to
be configured for one time use by virtue of its material composition.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a disposable blade for separating the
epithelium of a cornea
from the underlying Bowman's layer comprising a separator fabricated from a
polymeric
material. The separator comprises a front portion that includes a separating
edge, a rear
trailing portion having a rear edge, and a pair of side edges that extend from
the front and
rear portions. The separating edge is sharp enough to separate the epithelium
layer from
Bowman's layer, but not sharp enough to cut into Bowman's layer when in
contact therewith.
The blade may include a blade holder that is preferably, but not necessarily,
a polymeric
material.
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In another aspect, the invention provides a separator to be used with a
surgical device that
separates the epithelium of a cornea from the underlying Bowman's layer of an
eye of a
patient, the surgical device including a positioning ring for temporary
attachment to the eye
and structured to present and expose the cornea to be separated, a separator
head
assembly structured and disposed to carry said separator, and a drive operably
connected to
the separator head assembly for causing movement of the separator across the
positioning
ring and for causing oscillating movement of said separator, said separator
comprising a
separating edge, said separator having a polymeric separating edge.
In a preferred aspect of the invention, the polymeric material of the
separator is transparent.
A transparent separator will not obstruct the visual field when observing the
progress of the
separator through the cornea. More preferably, the polymeric material
comprises a slight tint
so that there it is visibly different in perceived color than the epithelium.
In another preferred aspect, the separator is constructed of a polymeric
material that will
undergo dimensional changes if exposed to temperatures exceeding about 100
°C. This can
be accomplished, for example, with a polymeric material that has a Vicat
softening point
below about 100 °C. This prevents the blade from being used after
either autoclaving or
steam sterilization, thus ensuring that a new, pristine blade is used on each
patient. Only in
this manner, can the quality and safety of the separator be guaranteed.
In yet another aspect of the present invention a method is provided for
separating at least a
portion of an epithelium from a cornea of an eye, so that an intact Bowman's
layer is
exposed. The method comprises the steps (a) fixing a positioning ring to an
eye so that the
cornea at least partially extends therethrough; (b) moving a separator having
a polymeric
separating edge along a travel path that intersects at least a portion of the
cornea so as to
separate the epithelium from the cornea, leaving Bowman's layer intact; and
(c) retracting
the separator out of contact with the cornea.
One object of the present invention is to provide a separator that is able to
separate the
epithelium of a cornea from the underlying Bowman's membrane in such a way
that the
epithelium can be easily and precisely aligned back into its original position
following the
reshaping of the cornea.
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Another object of the present invention is to provide a separator that can be
manufactured
cheaply and easily such that the separator is disposable, thus reducing the
chance of
infection upon reuse after inadequate sterilization.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a separator that is
incapable of
being sterilized by autoclaving or steam sterilization after it has already
been used one time.
Such a separator should, however, be capable of being sterilized by other
means, such as,
for example, exposure to electromagnetic radiation, or to chemical agents.
A final object of the present invention is to provide a separator that does
not obstruct the
visual field of the surgeon as it progresses through the cornea.
Other objects, advantages, and salient features of the present invention will
become
apparent from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction
with the
annexed drawings, discloses preferred embodiments of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
Fig. 1 is a diagram showing a perspective view of a separator according to one
embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the first three layer of tissue of the
cornea of an eye.
Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a partial side view of a separator's flat leading
edge according to
an embodiment.
Fig. 4 is a diagram showing a partial side view of a separator's rounded
leading edge
according to another embodiment.
Fig. 5 is a diagram showing a partial side view of a separator's angled
leading edge
according to yet another embodiment.
Figs. 6A - 6C are diagrams showing cross sectional views of separators
according to
different embodiments.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a side view of a separator assembly according to
the present
invention.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a side view of a hand piece useful in practicing
the present
invention.
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FIG. 9 is a side view of the separator assembly in a first position slidably
engaged with a
hand piece secured to the eye by vacuum.
FIG. 10 is a side view of the separator assembly in a second position slidably
engaged with
a hand piece secured to the eye by vacuum.
FIG. 11 is a side view of the separator assembly in a third position slidably
engaged with a
hand piece secured to the eye by vacuum.
FIG. 12 is a top view of portions of the hand piece and separator assembly
after the
epithelium has been separated from the eye.
FIG. 13 is a cross sectional side view of a portion of the separator assembly
showing the
spatial relationship between the separating edge and the applanator.
FIGs. 14A - 14C show the various placements of the separated epithelium as the
separating
edge engages the cornea and causes separation of the epithelium for Bowman's
layer.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The disclosed epithelium separator is especially suited for use in excimer
laser reshaping of
the cornea. It is safer than standard microkeratomes used in eye surgery, and
is
inexpensive enough to be a disposable, single use device, which eliminates the
need for
sterilization between procedures, and thus reduces the possibility of
infection.
The disclosed separator is ideally suited to the unique requirements for
separating the
epithelium layer from the underlying Bowman's layer. While microkeratomes
developed to
sever the stroma for laser in situ keratomileusis were required to be
extremely hard and
sharp to maintain a radius of curvature as low as 1 micron at the edge, the
present separator
has no such stringent requirements and can be constructed of cheaper, softer
materials. In
fact, the edge of the separator cannot be so sharp as to sever Bowman's layer
under normal
operating conditions, but instead, only has sharpness sufficient to cleave the
boundary
between the epithelium and Bowman's layer.
Referring to FIG. 1, the separator 100 comprises a separator body 102 having a
separating
edge 104, a rear edge 106, and a pair of side edges 108, 110 that extend from
the
separating edge 104 to the rear edge 106 defining the body. In a preferred
embodiment, the
plane of the rear edge 106 is generally parallel to the line of separating
edge 104. The
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separating edge 104 is the first portion of the separator 100 to come into
contact with the
cornea and effects the separation of the epithelium therefrom.
While the dimensions and configuration of the separator are largely determined
by the
instrument in which they are to be used, the separator 100 is preferably less
than 1000
microns in thickness. However, because the separating edge 104 must not be
sharp
enough to cut into Bowman's layer under normal operating conditions, it should
not be so
thin that excision of Bowman's layer would occur. The separating edge 104 is
preferably
greater than about 200 microns.
While the separator 100 can be flat, having a rear edge 106 substantially the
same width as
the separating edge 104, more preferably, the rear edge 106 is thicker in
dimension than the
separating edge 104. In some cases, the rear edge 106 may be an order of
magnitude
thicker than the separating edge 104, and even up to two orders of magnitude
thicker. Such
dimensions may make it easier for the surgeon to handle the separator prior to
insertion into
the surgical device and also aid in its stability once installed.
The cornea 200 of the human eye includes five layers, the outer three of which
are illustrated
in FIG. 2. The outer most layer is known is as the epithelium layer 202 and is
typically 50 to
90 microns thick. The epithelial layer 202 is stratified, possessing 5 to 6
layers of epithelial
cells, which are held together by desmosomes (not shown). Bowman's membrane
204
separates the epithelium from the stroma layer 206. Bowman's membrane 204 is
typically
about 12 microns thick, while the stroma 206 is from 400 to 450 microns thick
and makes up
most of the thickness of the cornea. While the preferred embodiment of the
present
invention is considered optimal for use upon a human eye, it is understood
that such a
separator is useful for use on similar animal eyes, including eyes of most
mammals and
many vertebrates, such as horses, dogs, cats, elephants, sheep, and swine.
In Fig. 3 shows a side view of a flat separating edge 302 of a separator 100
according to one
embodiment. The polymeric separating edge 302 of the separator 100 should not
be too
wide such that it will reduce the consistency with which the epithelial layer
202 is penetrated.
The separating edge 302 preferably is about 5 to 25 micrometers thick, and
more preferably
about 15 micrometers thick. Fig. 4 shows a side view of a rounded separating
edge 402
according to another embodiment of the separator 100. As shown in FIG. 5, the
separating
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edge can also come to an angled point 502, provided, however, that it is not
sufficiently
sharp to sever Bowman's layer when used as intended.
As demonstrated in FIG. 6A, the separator 600 need not be the flat rectangular
shape shown
in FIG. 1. The preferred separator 600 comprises a separator body 602 having a
polymeric
separating edge 604, a rear edge 606, and a pair of side edges (not shown)
that extend from
the polymeric separating edge 604 to the rear edge 606 defining the body. The
notch 605
on the underside of the separator 600 interacts with a support member 703 (see
Fig. 13) for
stability.
While the separator 600 of FIG. 6A has been described as being a solid body of
polymeric
material, and optionally including reinforcing material therein, in particular
embodiments, a
separator 600 may be fabricated as a polymeric coated metallic or ceramic
body. For
example, a metallic core 618 may be employed as a base upon which the
polymeric or
polymeric-composite material 616 may be disposed. While FIG. 6C, shows a
polymeric
coating 616 over only the separating edge, the coating 616 may cover the
entire metallic
core 618. In this manner, the metal core will provide rigidity to the
separator 600 whereas the
polymeric material 616 will provide the separating edge 614 for contact with
the cornea.
FIG. 6B shows an alternative embodiment of the present invention in which the
separator
600 comprises a polymeric front portion 610 that includes a separating edge
612, and a
metallic rear portion 608 comprising a rear edge 609. The front portion 610 is
joined to the
rear portion 608 in any one of a variety of known ways. As in the embodiment
shown in FIG.
6B, the metal portion 608 will provide rigidity to the separator 600 whereas
the polymeric
portion 610 will provide the separating edge 612 for contact with the cornea.
Referring to FIGS. 7 - 9 and 12, one embodiment of the surgical device of the
present
invention comprises a hand piece 800 with an integral vacuum ring 802 and a
separator
assembly 700. (Note that, for simplicity, the separator cover 706 is not shown
in FIGS. 9 -
11 and that the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.) Separator
assembly 700
comprises a drive shaft 710 that engages a motor (not shown) through a bushing
806 in the
hand piece 800 to move the separator assembly 700 transversely and to
oscillate the
separator 600. Vacuum is applied to the vacuum ring 802 through vacuum port
804 to
secure the eye thereto.
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Preferably, one or more motors (not shown) provide two types of motion to the
separator
assembly 700 and the separator 600. The first type of motion is side-to-side
oscillation
along an axis parallel to the separating edge 604 of the separator 600 to
assist in the
separation process. The second type of motion is longitudinal motion
perpendicular to the
separating edge 604 of the separator 600 to advance the separation along the
cornea. The
rotational motion of the motor is transferred from the drive shaft 710 to the
plunger assembly
712, through which it is translated to oscillations in the separator 600.
Under action from the
plunger assembly 712, the separator 600 is oscillated by the motor. The
separator 600 can
oscillate either transversely, vertically, or longitudinally with frequency
ranging from about 10
Hz to about 10 KHz. Electromagnetic or piezoelectric forces on the separator
600 can
alternatively provide the oscillation, or external rotating or vibrating wires
can provide the
oscillation. The separator 600 is preferably oscillated along the separator
support 703 in a
direction perpendicular to the plane of the figure.
Applanator 702 is connected to the separator assembly 700 in a position
forward of the
separator 600. Separator 600 is held firmly within the separator assembly 700
by separator
cover 706, which is preferably hingedly connected to the hand piece 700
moveable in the
direction of the arrow in FIG. 7. The cover 706 is secured in place through a
locking screw
708, which can be tightened by hand through the locking screw head 704.
Separator assembly 700 is slidably associated with hand piece 800 through
grooves 1208a,
1208b. Fig. 9 shows a cross sectional side view of an eye 902 of a patient and
an epithelial
separator device comprising the hand piece 800 associated with the separator
assembly
700. When the eye 902 is placed within the vacuum ring 802 and a vacuum is
applied to
vacuum port 804, the surface of the eye 902 is tightened and pulled through
the ring 802 to
expose the cornea 200 at a position forward of the applanator 702. As shown in
FIG. 9, the
separator assembly 700 begins in a first position located away from the eye
902.
Referring now to FIG. 10, as the applanator 702 moves forward under action of
the drive
shaft 700 through tracks 1208a, 1208b, the cornea 200 is forced against the
undersurface of
the applanator 702. This results in a flattening of the cornea 200 before it
comes into
contact with the separator 600. As the separator assembly 600 moves along the
cornea 200
of the eye 902, the separator 600 engages the cornea 200 and removes the
epithelium layer
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202 located at the surface of the cornea 200 of the eye 902. However, the
separator 600 is
not sharp enough to excise Bowman's layer 204 during operation of the
epithelial separator
device.
Referring now to FIG. 13, the separating edge 604 is positioned or angled such
that it is a
height h below the bottom surface of the applanator 702. The distance from the
separating
edge and the bottom surface of the applanator does not determine the depth of
the cut, as in
prior art LASIK procedures. Therefore, the exact value of this distance is not
as critical to
performance of the separator as it was to LASIK procedures where tens of
microns can be
the difference between a successful flap and a medical emergency. While prior
art LASIK
microkeratomes typically cut at a distance of 130 -150 microns, the present
separator can
be set at a depth (h) from between 40 microns to 300 microns, more preferably
from 40 to
100 microns. Surprisingly, consistent epithelium removal has been demonstrated
at depths
of about 240 microns.
The separator 600 is fabricated from a synthetic polymeric material. The
preferred polymeric
material is a thermoplastic or thermoset polymer or ionomer. There are
presently available a
wide variety of durable, resilient polymers which may be employed to fabricate
the separator.
Included among such materials are, but are not limited to, acetals,
(meth)acrylates, acrylics,
alkyds, polycarbonates, polyolefins, polyesters and co-polyesters,
polymethylpentene,
polypropylene, polysulfones, cellulosics, styrene acrylic co-polymers,
fluoropolymers, nylons,
polystyrene, polyetheretherketones (PEEK), polyarylates, polyetherimides,
styrene
acrylonitrile, silicones, epoxys, polyvinyl chloride, urethanes, acrylonitrile-
butadiene-styrene
(ABS), methylmethacrylate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (MABS), allyl
diglycolcarbonate,
as well as combinations or blends of these polymers. The preferred polymeric
materials are
polycarbonates, PEEK, polystyrenes, MABS, acetal homopolymers, and poly(methyl
methacrylate) (PMMA). It has in fact been found, in accord with the principles
of the present
invention, that many of these materials can retain a sufficiently sharp edge
and have
sufficient durability and resiliency to function as a separator.
Preferably, the separator has a flexural modulus of at least about 1.5 GPa
according to
ASTM D790-02, more preferably at least about 2.0 GPa, and most preferably at
least about
3.0 GPa. Furthermore, the separator preferably has a tensile strength at yield
of at least
about 25 MPa according to ASTM D638-02, more preferably at least about 40 MPa,
and
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most preferably at least about 50 MPa. Additionally, the separator preferably
has either a
Rockwell M hardness greater than or equal to 70 or a Rockwell R hardness
greater than or
equal to 90, according to ASTM D785-98e1. Most preferably, the material has a
Rockwell M
hardness of greater than 90. Such relatively stiff materials (compared to
other plastics) are
preferred in order to avoid deformation of the separator during normal
operation. However, it
is indeed surprising that such materials having strength and hardness less
than stainless
steel are nonetheless suitable for use in a separator in the present
invention. Commercially
available materials meeting the above preferred criteria include various
grades and
formulations of PEEK, PMMA, acetal homopolymer, polystyrene, MABS, and
polycarbonate.
In addition to the stiffness of the material, the toughness of the material
can be important in
the use of the separator. Accordingly, the separator preferably has a
toughness of at least
about 1 J/cm2, more preferably at least about 2 J/cm2, most preferably at
least about 3
J/cm2, according to ISO 179-1 (15 Dec 2000) Charpy Impact Test. When this test
method is
referenced to herein it is meant to refer only to the portion of the test
performed at 23 °C
using unnotched specimens. Such relatively tough materials (compared to other
plastics)
are preferred in order to avoid cracking or shattering of the separator during
normal
operation. However, it is indeed surprising that such materials having
toughness less than
stainless steel are nonetheless suitable for use in a separator in the present
invention.
Commercially available materials meeting the above preferred criteria include
various grades
and formulations of PEEK, PMMA, acetal homopolymer, polystyrene, MABS, and
polycarbonate. However, while unmodified polystyrene has moderate strength, it
is rigid and
brittle. Impact strength is increased significantly by blending the polymer
with rubbers such
as polybutadiene. The preferred MABS is available commercially for BASF as
Terlux~ 2802
and the preferred polystyrene is commercially available from Nova Chemicals as
Crystal PS
3500. Table 1 below presents data provided by the manufacturer of various
polymers.
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TABLE 1
Tensile StrengthFlexural Charpy ImpactVicat Softening
at Yield (MPa)Modulus (GPa)J/cm~ (C)
Terlux~ 2802 4g * 15 91
Crystal PS 3500 36 3.5 * 92
Victrex PEEK g7 4.1
4506
BASF Lucryl~ 60 * 5 106
KR
2008/1 PMMA
* Data not provided by manufacturer
In another embodiment, the polymeric material is reinforced by incorporation
of various
inorganic filler materials. For example, carbon and glass fibers and powders
have been
incorporated into various polymeric materials to greatly increase flexural
strength. Such
materials typically have high degrees of strength and are capable of taking
and maintaining
a sufficient separating edge, as well as providing sufficient toughness to
allow for their use in
fabricating the separating device.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the polymeric material of the
separator is
transparent. A transparent separator wilt not obstruct the visual field when
observing the
progress of the separator through the cornea. The polymeric material
preferably exhibits a
light transmission greater than 50 percent, more preferably greater than 75
percent, and a
haze factor less than about 25 percent, more preferably less than about 5
percent, in
accordance with ASTM D1003-00. More preferably, the polymeric material
comprises a
slight tint so that there it is visibly different in perceived color than the
epithelium. This is
easily accomplished, for example, by addition of a tinting agent to the
polymer before
manufacture. The slight tint will provide a contrast between the blade and the
epithelium
enabling the surgeon to differentiate therebetween, but yet, still providing
optical clarity for
observation of the cornea during use. The tint, by increasing the visibility
of the separator
during use, will also make it easier for the surgeon to handle the blade prior
to insertion into
the surgical device.
The tinting agent can include one or more pigments. Preferably, the pigment is
a white
pigment, a black pigment, a blue pigment, a brown pigment, a cyan pigment, a
green
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pigment, a violet pigment, a magenta pigment, a red pigment, or a yellow
pigment, or
shades or combinations thereof. Suitable classes of colored pigments include,
for example,
anthraquinones, phthalocyanine blues, phthalocyanine greens, diazos, monoazos,
pyranthrones, perylenes, heterocyclic yellows, quinacridones, diketopyrolo-
pyroles, and
(thio) indigoids. Representative examples of phthalocyanine blues include
copper
phthalocyanine blue and derivatives thereof (Pigment Blue 15). Representative
examples of
quinacridones include Pigment Orange 48, Pigment Orange 49, Pigment Red 122,
Pigment
Red 192, Pigment Red 202, Pigment Red 206, Pigment Red 207, Pigment Red 209,
Pigment Violet 19 and Pigment Violet 42. Representative examples of
anthraquinones
include Pigment Red 43, Pigment Red 194 (Perinone Red), Pigment Red 216
(Brominated
Pyanthrone Red) and Pigment Red 226 (Pyranthrone Red). Representative examples
of
perylenes include Pigment Red 123 (Vermillion), Pigment Red 149 (Scarlet),
Pigment Red
179 (Maroon), Pigment Red 190 (Red), Pigment Violet, Pigment Red 189 (Yellow
Shade
Red) and Pigment Red 224. Representative examples of thioindigoids include
Pigment Red
86, Pigment Red 87, Pigment Red 88, Pigment Red 181, Pigment Red 198, Pigment
Violet
36, and Pigment Violet 38. Representative examples of heterocyclic yellows
include Pigment
Yellow 1, Pigment Yellow 3, Pigment Yellow 12, Pigment Yellow 13, Pigment
Yellow 14,
Pigment Yellow 17, Pigment Yellow 65, Pigment Yellow 73, Pigment Yellow 74,
Pigment
Yellow 110, Pigment Yellow 117, Pigment Yellow 128, Pigment Yellow 138, and
Pigment
Yellow 151. A representative example of diketopyrolo-pyroles include Pigment
Red 254.
Such pigments are commercially available in either powder or press cake form
from a
number of sources including, BASF Corporation, Engelhard Corporation and Sun
Chemical
Corporation. Examples of other suitable colored pigments are described in the
Colour Index,
3rd edition (The Society of Dyers and Colourists, 1982).
In another preferred embodiment, the separator is constructed of a polymeric
material that
will undergo dimensional changes if exposed to temperatures exceeding about
121 °C, most
preferably exceeding about 100 °C. Such a material is incapable of
being autoclaved after
use, thereby ensuring that separators are not reused. More preferably, the
polymeric
material has a Vicat softening point, measured by ASTM D1525-00 of less than
about 121
°C, most preferably less than about 100 °C. The Vicat softening
point is the temperature at
which a flattened needle of 1 mm2 cross section, and under a specified
constant load,
penetrates a specimen of the plastic to a depth of 1 mm. It is useful as a
rough comparative
guide to a resin's resistance to elevated temperatures.
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Referring to Fig. 14A, the separator 600 is used with a surgical device that
separates the
epithelium 1206 of a cornea from the underlying Bowman's layer 204 of an eye
of a patient.
As the separator 600 is positioned in contact with the eye, the separator edge
604 will cleave
the fibrils connecting the epithelium 1206 to Bowman's layer 204, but will not
slice into
Bowman's layer 204. The separator 600 pushes the epithelial cells 1206 and
preferably,
does not exert a force that could disrupt the intercellular bonds, such as the
desmosomes.
As the separator edge 604 progresses along the eye, the epithelium 1206 is
preferably left
free to assume an unhindered position and configuration. Often, the epithelium
1206 will
progress along the top surface of the applanator 702. Referring to FIG. 14B,
depending, in
part, on the angle of incidence of the separator 600 and the depth of
encounter (h), the
epithelium 1206 may be pushed out in front of the separator 600, forming
multiple folds
1400a, 1400b as it progresses. Alternatively, the epithelium may progress up
the front
surface 1402 of the separator 600 as shown in FIG. 14C.
By not constraining the epithelium 1206 during separation, the epithelium 1206
encounters
minimal stress and strain and will suffer less cell death. This is
particularly important when
the separator 600 is oscillated. If the epithelium 1206 is constrained or
otherwise prevented
from moving freely (such as being held against a surface post-separation), the
oscillatory
energy of the separator 600 will be absorbed, at least partially, by the
epithelium 1206,
causing cell disruption or death. However, a freely moving epithelium 1206
will not absorb
as much energy from the oscillatory movement of the separator 600 and will
maintain
structural integrity.
Referring back to FIG. 12, when the separator assembly 700 is retracted from
the cornea
after separation as occurred, the separated epithelium layer 1206 is
preferably left partially
attached to the cornea of the eye by a hinge 1202. The hinge 1202 is
preferably about 1 cm
in length, but can differ significantly from this, provided enough of Bowman's
layer 1204 is
exposed to perform laser ablation. The separated epithelium 1206 typically
will be laid out
flat upon the exposed Bowman's layer 1204 after the separator assembly 700 is
retracted.
In this case, the epithelium is carefully moved to the side with forceps to
the position shown
prior to laser ablation. The applanator 702 is not shown here for more clarity
of the drawing.
CA 02508689 2005-06-09
WO 2004/052254 PCT/EP2003/013955
-14-
While the invention has been described above by reference to various
embodiments, it will
be understood that many changes and modifications can be made without
departing from
the scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that the foregoing
detailed description be
understood as an illustration of the presently preferred embodiments of the
invention, and
not as a definition of the invention. It is only the following claims,
including all equivalents,
which are intended to define the scope of this invention.
